Target device



Oct. 6,1942: w. A. TRATSCH TARGET DEVICE Filed Jan. 17, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 7% H15 ATTORN Walier A. Jzasc/i f HR, v. .HNN\N\HNNNM Ot. 6, 1942. w. A. TRATSCH TARGET DEVICE Filed Jan. 1'7, 19412 Sheets-Sheet 2 am m A H W% Patented Oct. 6, 1942 U N IT ED STATES PATENT F F'iI CE TARGET DEVICE Walter "A; TratschpChicago, 111. ApplicationJ nuary 17, 1941, SerialNo. 374,809-

1 Claim.

This invention relates to certain novel rim provements in target devicesand has for its principal object the provision of an improvedconstruction of this character which will be highly efficient in use andeconomical in manufacture.

Among the salient objects of the present invention is the provision of acombination and arrangement of parts for removably presenting a targetto the marksman in a manner such that when the target is struck by thepellet the same can freely move from target-supporting position forreturn by a return mechanism to target-moving position into and throughthe aiming range of the device.

A still further object of the invention resides in the novel andinexpensive arrangement for recording hits scored by the marksman.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of partsto be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective front elevational view of the target apparatusembodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional detail view of the same takensubstantially on lines 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional detail view of the same takensubstantially on lines 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail View of the upper portion ofthe target return mechanism; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the target conveyor.

In the drawings I have illustrated the preferred form of construction ofmy invention. In this connection the target apparatus comprises abox-like structure Ill having side walls I l between which is arranged arearwardly and downwardly extending target wall I2 having its targetface I3 covered with a pellet-resisting material l4 preferably of ametal suitable for that purpose. In this target wall l2 with edges [5likewise lined with pellet-resisting material, are inclined elongatedopenings I6, arranged with an intermediate elongated opening I! inclinedat an angular position with respect to the two openings l6. The

target wall I 2, together with runways l9 disposed along the lower edgel8 of the openings l6 and I1, serves to movably support the targetelements 2B, which in the present instance are formed disc-like and of ametal which is adapted to resist the impact of pellets striking-againstthese targets. These runways l9 are '50 arranged with respect to each'other that the target will travel over the target wall to the rearthereof in zig-zag formation. These discs 26 are conveyed to theuppermost of the runways l9 by a motordriven conveyor belt 2] havingdisposed at intervals on the face thereof target-supporting steps 22whereby the targets deliverd, in a manner hereinafter explained, to theelevator will by these steps be brought to the uppermost of the runwaysI9 and, by virtue of the inclination of these steps with respect to theconveyor belt 2|, the targets will roll by gravity onto the uppermost ofthe runways IQ for travel therealong with portions thereof exposedthrough the openings l6 and H.

In the present instance this conveyor belt is supported by oppositepulleys 22', one of which is driven by a suitable motor 23.

Associated with the target wall I2 to the rear thereof is an inclinedplatform 24 onto which the targets 20 are adapted to drop when unseatedfrom the runways l9 upon being struck by the pellets. As these targets20 drop upon this platform 24, by virtue of the inclination of thisplatform 24 the targets will slide downwardly into a trough-likestructure 25 onto a conveying chain 26 driven by a suitable motor 21 andhavinga suitable tensioning device 28. As these targets 20 drop uponthis conveyor chain 26, they are conveyed for passage through an opening29 onto the elevator within which the conveying belt 2| is arranged,whereupon the target will be seated upon one of the inclined steps 22for elevation up to the uppermost of the runways I9.

In their movement from the platform 24 into the trough structure 25, thetargets come into contact with an elongated strip 39 pivotally supportedon the target wall as at 3| and having associated therewith a contactclosing pin 32 bearing against a spring contact leaf 34 whereby theweight of the target against the strip 3| will cause the pin 32 to bearagainst the spring contact leaf 34, bringing the same into contact witha companion spring contact leaf 35 to complete a circuit to a scorerelay 36 of a well-known type, whereby to register a score in a mannerwell-known in the art.

As shown in Fig. 3, the discharge end 31 of the conveyor 26 is disposedin spaced relation with respect to the conveyor chute 2| in which theconveyor belt 2| is positioned, so that any pellets passing through theopenings [6 and I1 and finding lodgement on the platform 24 willgravitate into the trough structure 25 onto the conveyor chain 26 and bethereby conveyed for gravitation into a pellet-receiving receptacle 38removably associated with the target device.

By inclining the target wall l2, it is obvious that the weight of thetargets 20 will bear against this wall and be exposed through theopenings "5 and I! while gravitating down the runways l9 and when struckby a pellet it will be apparent that there is nothing to interfere withthe target being unseated from the runways l9 to fall upon the platform24, where they are gravitated into contact with the strip 30 for reasonsherein explained, and hence onto the conveyor chain 26 for assage to theconveyor 2| to be conveyed thereby into position where by the action ofan ejector spring 39 the target discs will be ejected onto the uppermostof the runways [9.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

In a target apparatus for rolling disc targets, a target rangecomprising a downwardly and rearwardly inclined target wall having oneor more inclined elongated openings formed therein, inclined runways tothe rear of said wall and adjacent the lower elongated edge of saidopenings and adapted with the cooperation of said target wall to supportrolling disc target elements for gravitation theredown while exposedthrough said openings whereby the target elements may be unseated fromsaid runway at any point along the latter when struck by a pellet.

WALTER A. TRATSCH.

